Season 2 finale ends with a bang! Paris "AJ" Adkins-Jackson, PhD is a multidisciplinary health equity researcher and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University. She tells me how her career path moved from anthropology to studying impact of structural determinants of health on historically…

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You will surely love today's episode with Fausto Bustos, PhD. Fausto is an infectious disease epidemiologist and an ORISE Data Science Fellow at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, where he provides data analytic expertise, computational and statistical assistance, and substantive scientific knowledge to advance their researc…

Rachel Hardeman, PhD is nothing short of a powerhouse. She is a reproductive health equity researcher, scholar, teacher, writer, speaker, and activist. Rachel is Associate Professor and the first Blue Cross Endowed Professor of Health and Racial Equity. Division of Health Policy & Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Her res…

Steve Mooney, PhD, is an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health. He and I have been friends since 2017, and we met because we were both in the very early stages of our divorces. On the show, we talk about how our divorce has changed our feelings about our family structure. He tells me what it's l…

Today, my chat with the amazing Maria Glymour, ScD, Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California - San Francisco. Maria tells me about being lost after college and her winding road to epidemiology, growing up in rural Oklahoma, riding cows, the Beastie Boys, a dinner party with Jaws, and the 'flavor' red. I don't thin…

Tamarra James-Todd, PhD is an Associate Professor of Environmental Health at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. She tells me about the motivations for her research interests in environmental reproductive justice, dedicating her diabetes research to her late father, the value of peer mentorship, joy riding with her dad in his Mustang in th…

Chenoa Cassidy-Matthews is a rockstar PhD student in epidemiology at the University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health. She is a member of the Sachigo Lake First Nation, which is an Oji Cree First Nation band government in an area that colonizers now call Northwestern Ontario Canada. Chenoa is an indigenous health researcher…

Today you hear from Whitney Robinson, PhD, social epidemiologist and all around brilliant, thoughtful, vulnerable woman. She is so well known in the public health community after her positions as a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Societies Scholar, assistant and then associate professor at UNC in the epidemiology department, and now as faculty epide…

If you know my guest today, you probably know what a rock star researcher is, but you may not know much of anything personal about him. Today, Brandon Marshall, PhD, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Brown University, gives me a glimpse into his life: acting, snowboarding, home decorating, caring for 2 pugs, and stubbornly refusing to leave Ce…

Today you'll hear from Dana Bernson, MPH, Epidemiologist and Director of Special Analytic Projects within the Office of Population Health at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She tells me about her position in state government and what she finds so fulfilling about it. Dana also generously shares the story of her first husband's passin…

I am happy to present to you a delightful conversation I had with Sameera Nayak, MA, who is currently a doctoral student in Population Health in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research at Northeastern University. Sameera tells me about immigrating to the US from India at 18 for college and…

Today, I got to enjoy an informative, hilarious, and illuminating conversation with the incomparable Roland Thorpe, Professor of Health, Behavior and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. And his newest position, which we talk about today, is as the Associate Vice Provost of Faculty Diversity. Roland also discusses his lov…

Welcome to the premier of Season 2 of Shiny Epi People! I could not find a better way to start this new season than to chat with one of my epi besties Jaimie Gradus, DSc. Jaimie is an Associate Professor at Boston University School of Public Health whose research focuses on psychiatric epidemiology. She has an impressive NIH grant portfolio, so we …

It is the final of the update episodes with guests from 2020! Today, you hear from the hilarious Hoda Abdel Magid. Hoda is currently in the second year of her postdoc. She tells me about resubmitting her K99-R00 application, hot yoga in a hijab, a setup date in Cairo that she didn't know was a setup, surfing, therapy (a fav topic of mine!), and mor…

Summer is nearly over, but I have two more updates of these episodes to put out! So we are going to keep calling them summer episodes! Today, you hear from two recent graduates and rising stars you first heard from in 2020: Louisa Smith, PhD, and Michelle Caunca, MD, PhD. Since her episode aired, Louisa has defended her dissertation, accepted a pos…

I believe in summer through September! Here is a fourth summer bonus episode for your enjoyment! And I have a treat with the hilarious and sweet Bertha Hidalgo. Bertha was my guest back in 2020, and so many of you loved her episode then. Today's will not disappoint! Bertha and I talk about her appearance on Dancing with the Stars (local version!), …

It's early September, and I'm still going to call this a summer episode! Today, you'll hear updates from Matt Fox and Mya Roberson. If you haven't listened to their original episodes way back in 2020, go have a listen. Matt and I talk some more here on kindness (or lack thereof) on Twitter, deli meat sheets, and superheroes. Mya finished her disser…

Summer is ending, but my summer bonus episodes are not! Today, you get to hear 3 interviews which all appeared first on my Patreon as a thank you to my patrons (become one at www.patreon.com/shinyepipeople). Today, they are out for all to enjoy! You hear updates from Leslie McClure, Penny Gordon Larsen, and Hailey Banack. They all appeared on the s…

Hi everyone! Happy summer! I have been releasing update episodes this summer for supporters via my Patreon (www.patreon.com/shinyepipeople). I decided to publish this summer bonus episode for all listeners because it is poignant and timely. I caught up with coronavirus researcher Tim Sheahan, who recorded with me back in fall 2020, when the pandemi…

After 40 episodes, Season 1 is a wrap! In this short episode, I share thoughts I have about the experience of launching a podcast during a pandemic, what I have learned about myself and people in public health, what I will be doing until Season 2, and where I want to go with the show. Thanks to all of the listeners who have trusted me to put togeth…

Support the showBy Lisa Bodnar

Ken Rothman, DrPH is arguably one of the most influential living epidemiologists. Ken has been in the field for almost 50 years, conducting research, writing, and teaching. He co-authors two of the most used textbooks in epidemiology: Modern Epidemiology and Epidemiology: an Introduction. He is the founding editor of Epidemiology, a leading journal…

Kemi Doll, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and an adjunct assistant professor of Health Services at the University of Washington Schools of Medicine and Public Health. She is a practicing gynecologic oncologist and health services researcher, and has her own career coaching business that helps Women of Color take control of…

Bonnie Swenor is an epidemiologist and associate professor at The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute and the Epidemiology Department at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is the founder and director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, which addresses health inequities for people with disabilities. Bonnie's …

John Pamplin, PhD, is an epi postdoc at NYU who studies the consequences of structural racism and systemic inequity on mental health and substance use. John earned his bachelor's degree at Morehouse College, one of the a historically Black colleges and universities in the US. John talks about how his experience at Morehouse allowed him to explore h…

Jae Downing, PhD is an assistant professor in Oregon Health and Science University - Portland State University School of Public Health. Their research explores how policies and social safety nets shape healthcare for gender and sexual minority populations. Jae tells me how they protect research time by setting boundaries on service, the challenges …

Marcia Pescador Jimenez, PhD is currently a postdoc in Epidemiology at Harvard, and will be transitioning to assistant professor at Boston University. Her research focuses on spatial determinants of health through the lifecourse. Marcia is originally from Mexico City, and talks about challenges of writing in English and negotiating a job offer in t…

Mercedes Carnethon, PhD, a chronic disease epidemiologist, is Vice Chair and Professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University. One of Merci's favorite things about her job is helping people navigate difficult conversations and mediating those conversations. She talks about how she approaches such conversations, including how to talk with…

Noah Kreski, MPH trained at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and now serves as Kerry Keyes' data analyst at Columbia working on projects relating to depressive symptoms, suicidal behavior, and substance use among adolescents. Noah is also very interested in LGBTQ health justice and anti-violence. Today, Noah talks about their choice to earn…

Sarah Birken, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Implementation Science in the School of Medicine at Wake Forest University, and Sarah co-hosts the AcaDames podcast. In this sort-of Acadames-Shiny Epi People cross-over episode, Sarah tells me the pod's origin story, how she has changed as a podcaster, and what she loves and finds ch…

The wonderful podcast AcaDames interviewed me for their show today (episode S504)! If you'd like to listen, you can find AcaDames wherever you get your podcasts or go to acadamespodast.com. We talked about my experience being divorced and a single mom of 3 kids, my choice to take a faculty position to be near my family, setting boundaries at work, …

Aisha Dickerson, PhD is an epidemiologist who studies environmental risk factors for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Aisha tells me about her long and complicated path to her faculty position and her tenacity in getting there. Her path includes partying in undergrad, being rejected by an MSPH program but convincing admissions to…

Nur Zeinomar, PhD is a cancer epidemiologist who is an Instructor of Medicine in the Section of Cancer Epidemiology and Health Outcomes at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. She and I talk about how it does take a village to raise kids with two parents with demanding careers, and how she found that village in New York City. She also wanted to …

Bill Miller, MD, PhD, MPH is Senior Associate Dean of Research, Professor of Epidemiology at the Ohio State University College of Public Health, and international expert in infectious disease epidemiology, and yet he describes himself as "an introverted imposter with ADD." Bill unpacks all of this, as well as being known in his family as "the dumbe…

Debbie Jakubowski is a PhD student at the University of Illinois at Chicago who credits her career in biostatistics partially to her start in the community college system. After obtaining a degree in mathematics from UC-Berkeley, Debbie got an MPH and began working at a biotech company as a statistician. She tells me the benefits and draw of workin…

Lauren McCullough, PhD is a cancer epidemiologist who has mastered what people sometimes call "soft skills" (how you work). In this episode she talks about the 3 questions to ask yourself before setting goals, how to map goals onto time allocation, and how to get what you need in a mentor. Lauren is incredibly talented in the arts, as well! She tel…

Cara Eckhardt, PhD is my BFF. In part 2 of my conversation with her, Cara and I talk about our own 20-year friendship, how we have stayed close after so many years, the impact that celebrating each other's lives has helped us strengthen our connection, how adults form friendships generally, and how to not lose yourself after becoming a parent. Ther…

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is an epidemiologist, physician, progressive activist, educator, author, speaker, and political contributor to CNN. Abdul holds a doctorate in public health from Oxford University, and in addition to his academic contributions, he served as Health Director in the City of Detroit. In 2018, he ran for Governor of Michigan and was e…

Yanica Faustin, PhD, moved from an R1 institution to a mid-sized private university where her job is mostly teaching and mentoring undergraduates in epidemiology and public health. She tells me about that choice and why she feels supported and happy there. Yanica also shares stories of her unique birthing experience, her obsession with Sims (the vi…

Lorraine Dean, ScD, social epidemiologist, discusses her very winding road to epidemiology, returning to academia after 2 years in a policy position, "failing up", and the impact she wishes to have as a Black female scholar. We also talk Reader's Digest wisdom, Covid stress management, pineapple pizza, and more! Support the show…

Tim Lash, ScD is a cancer epidemiologist, editor-in-cheif of a major journal in our field, editor of the primary textbook in our field, and chair of an epidemiology department. He knows epidemiology! That's why I asked him to share his most important piece of advice for epidemiologists from PhD students to full professors. Tim and I talk about the …

Timothy Sheahan, PhD is a coronavirologist whose work on SARS-Cov2 (the virus that causes Covid-19) is contributing to critical and timely therapies and guidelines for public health and clinical care. Tim's appointment is within an epidemiology department! We talk about what it's like to rise to "fame" for his coronavirus research, how he keeps him…

Cheryl Clark, DrPH is an epidemiologist who has worked in the government for over two decades. We talk about her role now improving maternal and child health programs in state health departments and her commitment to health equity. We also discuss Cheryl's amateur art hobby, drinking salsa, Don Cheadle starring in her mystery novel, and more! Suppo…

Cara Eckhardt, PhD is my BFF and a nutritional epidemiologist. In this episode, Cara talks about her choice to move back to her home state and take a faculty position that focuses on teaching epidemiology to undergraduates. We also discuss her dreams of being a presidential debate moderator, Werther's originals, bralettes, soup dumplings, jaunty ha…

Leslie McClure, PhD, Chair of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Drexel, discusses the benefits of hidden mentoring, what it feels like to be a department chair, and the impact of early-career failure on her trajectory. She also talks hot flashes, foolishly cutting her own bangs, that horse thing with Daniel Radcliffe, and more! Support the show…

Louisa Smith, MS is an epidemiology PhD student at Harvard who was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at age 28. After a year of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, she now has no evidence of disease! On this episode, Louisa talks about her treatment, quantifying and graphing her own data, joining a randomized trial, and thinking about her futu…

Bertha Hidalgo, PhD, genetic epidemiologist, discusses how she is using her status as an Instagram influencer to promote public health and what it is like being a Latina in America and in academia. Bertha also talks about working in Dr Anthony Fauci's lab, her closet with 50 handbags, and fountain Diet Coke and baby carrots. I also give her a baseb…

The pod's twitter account hit 2000 followers, and I promised my 9-year-old something special when we hit this mark. So, here is Layla Bodnar, 4th grader, the baby of 3 kids, interviewing me (and me also interviewing her). Clearly, she has potential to be a podcaster in her own right! Support the show…

Geetika Kalloo, PhD decided that academia was not a good fit for her. After much reflection and confusion, she decided to take a job in healthcare consulting and is now so happy! Geetika and I share some of the many lessons we've learned in therapy, and we bond over our love of robes. She talks Frasier, cold-shoulder tops, and much more! Support th…